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Cover image for 3D image with one element
Temani Afif
Temani Afif

Posted on • Updated on

3D image with one element

A quick trick to create a 3D illustration using only an <img> tag. No pseudo elements, no extra tag, no SVG, Nothing! Only one tag and few lines of CSS.

Here you go

Let's dig into the code

img {
  --x:10px;
  --y:20px;
  clip-path:polygon( /* 4 */
       var(--y)              var(--y),  /* a */
       calc(100% - var(--y)) var(--y),  /* b */
       calc(100% - var(--y)) calc(100% - var(--y)), /* c */
       var(--y)              calc(100% - var(--y)), /* d */
       0 calc(100% - var(--x) - var(--y)), /* x */
       0 calc(var(--x) + var(--y))); /* y */
  transform:perspective(1000px) rotateY(40deg); /* 5 */
  outline: var(--y) solid rgba(0,0,0,0.4); /* 1 */
  outline-offset: calc(-1*var(--y)); /* 2 */
  padding:var(--y) var(--y) var(--y) 0; /* 3 */
}
img:hover { /* 6 */
  transform:perspective(1000px) rotateY(0deg);
  clip-path:polygon(
       var(--y)              var(--y), /* a */
       calc(100% - var(--y)) var(--y), /* b */
       calc(100% - var(--y)) calc(100% - var(--y)), /* c */
       var(--y)              calc(100% - var(--y)), /* d */
       var(--y)  calc(100% - var(--x) - var(--y)), /* x' */
       var(--y)  calc(var(--x) + var(--y))); /* y' */
}
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Here is a step by step illustration to understand each line of code

3D illustration

I have nothing more to add than: Enjoy!


We can easily adjust the above to consider any direction. Here is for the bottom one:

3D bottom persepective

I won't do the other directions, I will let you do it alone 😉

Top comments (5)

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alnahian2003 profile image
Al Nahian

Very Very Very Impressive and Amazing!

I'm gonna bookmark your post to test it later. The demo works fine and the code looks good. It seems like, I don't know that much of CSS :(

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jlrxt profile image
Jose Luis Ramos T.

Muy interesante. Gracias por compartir.

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vishal2369 profile image
Vishal2369

It's mindblowing.

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heymich profile image
Michael Hungbo • Edited

This is jaw-dropping!

Amazing hacks Temani! Now I know my knowledge of CSS is on the LHS of the number line 😓

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